Chuck Lauer, the former publisher of Modern Healthcare and a widely respected author and speaker, knows a few things about leadership. During his 30 years at Modern Healthcare, Mr. Lauer took the magazine from a monthly money-losing publication to the nation's leading healthcare news weekly. In a February interview with Becker's Hospital Review, he credited his success to his relationship with his employees and said that a remarkable leader must demonstrate integrity, transparency and courage every step of the way.
Mr. Lauer said outstanding leaders must be willing to solicit feedback from their employees. They may not be responsible for micro-managing every staff member, but they should still be in tune with the energy of the company and know how employees are reacting to administrative policies and decisions.
Mr. Lauer began his career as a retail representative for Life Magazine at Time and later served as a drug merchandising manager for Look. A sociable, gregarious salesman who had a way with people, he left drug merchandising to work as a general sales manager for American Medical Association publications. His experience as publisher of Modern Healthcare taught him a leadership position is not for everyone: Many people might dream of the respect and admiration a leader commands, but few have the ability to make tough calls and take responsibility for the success of an organization day in and day out.
"Not all that many people want to take the hard hits that leaders have to absorb, regardless of whether they run a hospital, a clinic or a restaurant," he said. "A study of graduate students several years ago showed that well over 60 percent did not want the responsibility of being a leader. While there are many talented people, only a select few will embrace a leadership role."
Since leaving Modern Healthcare, Mr. Lauer has written several books, including Decency and Soar with the Eagles: A challenge to excellence.
Mr. Lauer served in the U.S. Army as a corporal during the Korean War. He completed his postgraduate education at the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in Evanston, Ill.
Read more on notable hospital industry leaders:
-Hospital Industry Leader to Know: Dr. Lee Sacks of Advocate Health Care
Mr. Lauer said outstanding leaders must be willing to solicit feedback from their employees. They may not be responsible for micro-managing every staff member, but they should still be in tune with the energy of the company and know how employees are reacting to administrative policies and decisions.
Mr. Lauer began his career as a retail representative for Life Magazine at Time and later served as a drug merchandising manager for Look. A sociable, gregarious salesman who had a way with people, he left drug merchandising to work as a general sales manager for American Medical Association publications. His experience as publisher of Modern Healthcare taught him a leadership position is not for everyone: Many people might dream of the respect and admiration a leader commands, but few have the ability to make tough calls and take responsibility for the success of an organization day in and day out.
"Not all that many people want to take the hard hits that leaders have to absorb, regardless of whether they run a hospital, a clinic or a restaurant," he said. "A study of graduate students several years ago showed that well over 60 percent did not want the responsibility of being a leader. While there are many talented people, only a select few will embrace a leadership role."
Since leaving Modern Healthcare, Mr. Lauer has written several books, including Decency and Soar with the Eagles: A challenge to excellence.
Mr. Lauer served in the U.S. Army as a corporal during the Korean War. He completed his postgraduate education at the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in Evanston, Ill.
Read more on notable hospital industry leaders:
-Hospital Industry Leader to Know: Dr. Lee Sacks of Advocate Health Care